Because its settled in the heart of Silicon Valley, a big draw for filmmakers to attend
Cinequest is that major technology players (I can see the
Adobe building outside my hotel window, for example) are easily accessible and hold the answers to how films will be showcased in the future, and most importantly, how filmmakers can make money off it.
Today's panel titled "The Marriage of Television & The Internet" brought to the surface some of those answers.
Moderated by Cinequest president
Kathleen J. Powell with panelists
Thomas Morgan (chief strategy officer,
Move Networks) and
Lance Koenders (TA to SVP, Digital Home Group at
Intel), the main subject was how Internet television is the next step in helping filmmakers build an audience.
One example is
Widget Channel, a venture Intel and
Yahoo! have teamed up to develop. Koenders showcased the widget (pictured above) to the audience, highlighting how the popular functions of the Internet can now be attached on your TV.
MySpace,
Facebook, or any site you visit often will be lined up at the bottom of the screen, available at any time while watching TV. You can also interact with others to discuss what you're watching.
Morgan then highlighted Move Networks, which provides the video streaming software behind the players for
ABC,
The CW, and
FOX's TV shows online in HD quality. "Buffering is a thing of the past," said Morgan during the panel, as shows in high quality are now instantly available to users.
So what does this all mean for independent filmmakers?
Well, for one, with the current economy the Internet is one of the very few mediums that is finding growth. With most people staying home, or "cocooned" as Koenders put it, the notion of putting your work online is a smart one. But like most things on the Internet, how you can make a profit from doing this is still the $100 million question.
Morgan and Koenders admit that the most realistic platforms on the Web are still
iTunes,
Netflix,
Hulu, and the like, but in the next 2-5 years more companies similar to these will emerge. The trick, is to find a way to attract either a sponsor for your film or ads, which Morgan points out aren't the ads that we fast forward using our DVRs and TiVos. "That's what's killing traditional TV," he said. "But the Net are coming up with more engaging ways to put in the ads." Like the brief 15 second ads before Hulu TV shows and films or just ads placed on the same screen as the program you're watching.
One filmmaker during the Q&A pointed out his success on the Web.
Christopher Cannucciari, who has is debut feature premiering at Cinequest,
New Brooklyn, talked how his Web series,
Great Depression Cooking With Clara, is making him a good chunk of change, and attention. "After putting ads by Google on the page I started making money overnight," he said. The Web series, which highlights his Sicilian grandmother making meals from the Depression era while telling colorful stories, has been highlighted on numerous food blogs and Cannucciari was recently booked on
Good Morning America.
I met Cannucciari last night, and he told me
Rachel Ray wants him on her show and he's pitching the series to
The Food Network.
Who knows, in a few years you may have it as a Widget Channel.
Labels: Festival Ambassador
# posted by Jason Guerrasio @ 2/28/2009 06:25:00 PM
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